New Project Will Allow All Police Officers to Receive Additional Payments Through Certification

The government, during its session on March 16, approved a legislative package that encompasses provisions for all police officers to receive additional payments through certification.

The justification for the project states: “Considering the challenges present within the operational scope of the police, it is imperative to fill the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with high-quality, knowledgeable, and ethical personnel, making service in the police attractive and preventing staff turnover by providing additional social guarantees for police officers.”

“In light of the above, it is proposed to establish a certification system for police officers, from which eligible officers will be calculated for additional payments. The certification process, as well as the amounts and payment procedures for the additional payments, will be defined by a government decision.”

The certification process is planned to be implemented based on the following conceptual provisions:

1. The certification process, as a tool for increasing police officers' salaries, will commence in May 2023.
2. The initial duration of the certification program is 3 years, calculated from the date of the first group’s certification.
3. All police officers will have the opportunity to apply for certification, regardless of their position group, with the exception of those holding senior positions or those transferring to the Ministry of Internal Affairs' domain.
4. The responsible service will create schedules for conducting the certifications such that the number of officers undergoing certification in specific divisions does not exceed one-third of the filled positions, ensuring continuity of work.
5. The order of participation in the certification will be determined based on the alphabetical order of names and surnames. Other criteria may be established for determining the order of participation if necessary.
6. Depending on the position group, the procedures and conditions for certification may vary.

For officers who do not pass the certification, at least two additional opportunities for certification will be provided within the three-year validity of the program, which will include one retraining opportunity.

The expenses arising from the adoption of the project will be financed by the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. At the same time, considering that the amount of additional payments calculated based on certification results will be determined by a government decision, projected budget expenses may be addressed within the framework of the indicated decision’s project.